Trop Hop’s flagship is a tropical IPA that the brand lists at 6.1% ABV, with grapefruit and passionfruit as its defining flavors. One Charleston-area account from 2020 described it as light and refreshing, but the available evidence does not establish a broad tasting consensus or settle whether it lives up to the hype.
What is Austen Kroll’s Trop Hop beer?
Trop Hop is a Charleston-rooted beer brand founded by Austen Kroll. The brand’s About page says its idea was to make beer with a tropical influence. Its flagship is Trop Hop IPA; the official product page describes it as “developed to be appreciable, tropical, and easy drinking.” That is the brewery’s intended profile, not an independent judgment.
![Party trop tôt [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61rEJEqXa+L._SL160_.jpg)
The same product page lists Peachy Wheat Ale as another beer. It describes that beer as an American wheat ale with a hint of sweetness and subtle fruitiness, so it should not be mistaken for the flagship IPA.
What does Trop Hop taste like?
The brand’s description
The official product listing gives Trop Hop IPA a 6.1% alcohol-by-volume (ABV) and identifies grapefruit and passionfruit flavors. Those details indicate the intended fruit character, but a brand description alone cannot tell every drinker how pronounced the fruit will seem or how the beer will taste in a particular batch.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- SPARKLING HOP WATER: HOPWTR is a hop-infused sparkling water crafted with adaptogens and nootropics. Our blend is paired with Reishi Extract and L-Theanine, delivering a refreshing, feel-good beverage without alcohol, sugar, or calories.
- BREWER-APPROVED HOP BLEND: Our zero carb beverages are infused with a blend of Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops to deliver a crisp, refreshing flavor with bright citrus notes and subtle hop character for an easy-drinking, feel-good sip.
- ADAPTOGENS AND NOOTROPICS: Each can of HOPWTR is infused with our proprietary blend of adaptogens and nootropics featuring Reishi Extract and L-Theanine for a balanced, uplifting sip.
- POSITIVELY REFRESHING: HOPWTR is more than just an alcohol alternative — it’s a refreshing upgrade to soda, seltzer water, and flavored sparkling beverages. Non-alcoholic and crafted without sugar, carbs, or gluten, it’s a choice you can feel great about. Cheers to a life well sipped!
- SIX FEEL-GOOD FLAVORS: Included in this Party Pack are six refreshing flavors to fit every mood and occasion. Blood Orange and Lime deliver bright, zesty citrus flavor, Mango offers a juicy tropical twist, Peach brings smooth sweet fruit flavor, Ruby Red Grapefruit adds a crisp tart finish, and Classic features clean sparkling hop water with refreshing citrus and pine notes. All HOPWTR flavors are proudly sugar free, zero carb, and zero calorie.
What one local account reported
In an October 3, 2020 interview and review, Holy City Sinner described the beer as “light and refreshing,” with passionfruit and grapefruit notes. The account reported 55 International Bitterness Units (IBU) and characterized the bitterness as relatively restrained or mid-range. That is a dated local description, not a newly verified batch specification or a consensus across reviewers.
Kroll told the outlet, “It’s very dialed back,” adding, “I wanted it to have some ABV to it, but with the body of a session.” He was describing his intended balance of alcohol and body; the quote is from that 2020 interview, not an independent tasting assessment.
Rank #2
- SPARKLING HOP WATER: Non-alcoholic sparkling water infused with hops for a crisp, hop-forward taste. Zero sugar. Zero calories.
- HOP BLEND: Brewed with Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops for bright citrus notes and a balanced hop flavor.
- QUALITY INGREDIENTS: Made with hop extract, reishi extract, and L-theanine. Non-GMO Project Verified.
- NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: An alcohol-free sparkling beverage with no sugar, no carbs, no gluten, and zero calories.
- VARIETY PACK: Includes Classic, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Blood Orange, and Peach for a mix of hop-forward flavors.
Is Trop Hop bitter, and does it live up to the hype?
The evidence supports calling it a tropical IPA intended to emphasize grapefruit and passionfruit, with one local review reporting noticeable fruit and relatively restrained bitterness. It does not support saying the beer is not bitter: the 2020 account reported 55 IBU, and bitterness perception varies with the drinker and the beer’s balance of malt, fruit, and hops.
Whether it lives up to the hype is ultimately a personal verdict. The sources available here do not establish an independent blind-tasting result or broad review consensus, and there is no basis for presenting a universal quality verdict. Readers looking for a fruit-forward IPA with a body Kroll intended to feel lighter than its alcohol level might find the profile appealing; anyone who wants to know how it compares in practice will need a current tasting rather than a marketing description or a single older review.
Rank #3
- SPARKLING HOP WATER: HOPWTR is a hop-infused sparkling water crafted with adaptogens and nootropics. Our blend is paired with Reishi Extract and L-Theanine, delivering a refreshing, feel-good beverage without alcohol, sugar, or calories.
- BREWER-APPROVED HOP BLEND: Our zero carb beverages are infused with a blend of Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops to deliver a crisp, refreshing flavor with bright citrus notes and subtle hop character for an easy-drinking, feel-good sip.
- ADAPTOGENS AND NOOTROPICS: Each can of HOPWTR is infused with our proprietary blend of adaptogens and nootropics featuring Reishi Extract and L-Theanine for a balanced, uplifting sip.
- POSITIVELY REFRESHING: HOPWTR is more than just an alcohol alternative — it’s a refreshing upgrade to soda, seltzer water, and flavored sparkling beverages. Non-alcoholic and crafted without sugar, carbs, or gluten, it’s a choice you can feel great about. Cheers to a life well sipped!
- THREE FEEL-GOOD FLAVORS: Included in the Flavor Faves Variety Pack are three of HOPWTR’s most-loved flavors. Peach delivers smooth, juicy sweetness, Blood Orange offers vibrant citrus flavor, and Ruby Red Grapefruit provides bright, tangy refreshment. All HOPWTR flavors are proudly sugar free, zero carb, and zero calorie.
How the beer differs from Trop Hop’s THC coolers
Trop Hop’s official site also lists four THC-infused cooler options. They are a separate non-alcoholic product line, not beers and not the Trop Hop IPA. The current brand page lists options with 5 mg or 10 mg THC. A Bravo report published October 23, 2025 described four flavors and differentiated the 5 mg and 10 mg versions. Those details concern the coolers only.
Where to check availability
A 2020 Holy City Sinner report documented distribution around Charleston, including six-packs at 22 area Harris Teeter stores at that time, and described bar distribution in the region. That is historical local coverage, not a current list of stockists. Trop Hop’s official site now links a store locator and beer shop; check there for current availability in your area, since inventory and distribution can change.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
